Method of driving fastening elements into solid material covered by a compressible material



Filed Oct. 18, 1967 Jan.6, 1970 G. E. s'rndm 3,487,533

METHOD OF DRIVING FASTENING ELEMENTS INTO SOLID MATERIAL I COVERED BY A COMPRESSIBLE MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet l I lNvswak Mgw uner/x G. E. STRUM Jan. 6, 1970" 3,487,533 FASTENING ELEMENTS INTO SOLID MATERIAL lvllIT'HOL) 0F DRIVING COVERED BY A CJOMPRESSIBLE MATERIAL Filed Oct. 18. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet United States Patent 3,487,533 METHOD OF DRIVING FASTENING ELEMENTS INTO SOLID MATERIAL COVERED BY A COM- PRESSIBLE MATERIAL Giista S. Striim, E. Vasterhaninge, Sweden, assignor to Hilti Aktiengesellschaft, Schaan, Liechtenstein Filed Oct. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 676,184 Claims priority, application Sweden, Oct. 25, 1966, 14,623/66 Int. Cl. B23p 3/00, 11/00 US. Cl. 29-432 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of driving fastening elements into a solid material covered by a compressible material, such as an insulating material, and comprised of the steps of forming an opening through the compressible material, inserting a tubular element into the opening in the compressible material in contact with the face of the solid material, placing a support element on the outer end of the tubular element, supporting a driving element on the support element in alignment with the tubular element, and driving a fastening element through the tubular element into holding engagement within the solid material without compressing or otherwise disturbing the compressible material. The compressible material may be covered by securing a support means to the ends of the fastening elements outwardly from the compressible material, and placing a coating material on the support means whereby the coating material is carried by the fastening elements and does not bear on or compress the compressible material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a method of and apparatus for driving fastening elements into a solid material covered by a compressible material, such as the various fibrous insulating materials, and in addition, to an arrangement for supporting a coating over the compressible material without compressing or otherwise damaging it.

The term compressible material as used herein is deemed to refer to pressure-sensitive material, to wit, material which is negatively affected by the application of pressure. The material may thus be disintegrated by pressure. The term does not include materials wherein the effect is reversible, to wit, materials which, once the pressure action has been discontinued, revert to a state or condition which they had before the pressure was applied.

In the building construction industry, solid materials such as masonry and concrete walls, are provided with a layer of insulating material and an additional outer layer or coat is provided over the insulating material. Various insulating materials, such as fiberglas, rock wool and the like, may be used to cover the concrete wall. However, though the composition of these materials is different, they are similar in that they are of an easily compressible construction. When such insulating materials are exposed to pressure, they have a tendency to be compacted or compressed and the insulating capacity of the material is diminished if not completely destroyed. Further, the insulating material is incapable of supporting the coating which covers it so that the outer coat must be supported from the wall backing the compressible insulating material. Generally, the outer coat is applied to a metal screen which, in turn, must be supported either directly or indirectly from the concrete wall. In placing the outer coat over the insulating material, it must be placed in such a manner that the insulating material is not compressed or otherwise damaged.

The present invention is directed to the problem of covering a compressible material secured to a solid material base whereby the outer coat is supported by the base material and the compressible material is not altered in shape or composition whereby its usefulness would be impaired. Further, the invention is concerned with an arrangement for placing the outer layer in place which is simple to perform and can be carried out in an expeditious manner.

The primary object of the present invention is to pro vide a method of and means for coating the outer surface of a compressible material secured to a solid material base without compacting or otherwise altering the formation of the compressible material.

Another object of the invention is to afford a device for inserting fastening elements into the solid material base without disturbing the compressible material.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device for inserting the fastening elements into the solid material base which is easy to handle and operate.

Yet, another object of the invention is to afford a wall construction comprising a solid material base covered by a compressible material which, in turn, is covered by an outer coat supported by the solid material, the outer covering being secured to the base whereby it does not compact the compressible material.

Accordingly, in the present invention, a compressible material, such as a fibrous insulating material, is secured to a solid material base, such as a concrete wall, and fastening elements are inserted through the compressible material into the solid material base for supporting a covering over the compressible material. Preferably, openings are afforded in the compressible material through which the fastening elements are inserted into the solid material base. By providing such openings, there is not likely to be any damage caused to the compressible material during the insertion of the fastening elements.

In inserting the fastening elements, a member is provided for supporting the fastening element inserting tool during the inserting operation. This support member is supported off the solid base material to prevent the transmission of pressure to the compressible material when the fastening elements are driven into the base. Moreover, since the inserting tool must be forced against a nonyielding surface before it can be fired, the support member permits the step to be carried out without any force being exerted against the compressible material. Additionally, the support plate can absorb any excess energy supplied by the inserting tool when the fastening elements are driven into the solid material base.

As mentioned previously, the compressible material may have openings or holes through it, extending from its outer surface to the solid material base, and these openings serve to receive bearing members extending between the support plate and the solid material base.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a tubular member or bushing forms a part of the support plate extending from it into contact with the solid material base.

In addition to providing supporting means for the support plate, the tubular member also serves as a guide for the insertion of the fastening element and for the inserting tool during the driving operation. The tubular element is of particular advantage when thick layers of compressible insulating material are placed on the surface of the solid material base. In addition, the tubular member may have a short extension beyond the face of the plate to which the inserting tool is applied for properly aligning the inserting tool. Further, for ease in inserting the fastening elements, a handle is provided on the support plate.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a device embodying the present invention for inserting fastening elements into a solid material base;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the support plate of the device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view showing a number of fastening elements extending into a solid base material through a compressible material and supporting an outer coat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIGS. 1 and 3, a solid wall 1, such as concrete, has a layer of compressible insulating material 2 secured to its face. The insulating material 2, which may be fiberglas or a similar easily compressible insulating material, is fastened to the wall as by gluing. The insulating effect of the material 2 is relatively easily destroyed if the material is compressed or compacted against the concrete wall 1. Further, because the insulating material has no structural strength in itself, it cannot support a finishing layer or coat on its outer surface. Moreover, any application of another coat directly to the surface of the insulating material 2 would damage it and is likely to cause it to be stripped from the Wall. Accordingly, in FIG. 1 a device is shown for inserting fastening elements into the solid material base 1 without damaging or compacting the insulating material 2. In preparing the insulating material for application to the wall, a number of openings 5 are provided through it for ease in inserting the fastening elements at specific locations. With the openings 5 formed through the insulating material, there is less likelihood of damage to the insulating layer during the insertion of the fastening elements.

In the device a tubular member 7 has a bore 9, a first end bearing against the surface of the solid base material 1 and a second end located outwardly from the outer surface of the insulating material 2. Extending substantially perpendicularly to the tubular member 7 is a support plate 8 having a centrally arranged opening through which the tubular member extends. The support plate 8 is positioned in substantially parallel relationship with the surface of the solid base material 1 and is spaced closely from the outer surface of the insulating layer 2. The tubular member 7 and support plate 8 are integrally secured together by the weldment 10. A short extension 11 of the tubular member 7 extends through the support plate 8 and affords a centering means for end 15 of an inserting tool 12 shown in phantom in FIG. 1. When the inserting tool 12 is activated by depressing it against the support plate for driving a fastening element into the solid material base, the support plate rests, if at all, only lightly against the insulating material and does not compact or otherwise damage it.

At the lower end of the support plate a right angle section 13, 14 extends from the plate outwardly away from the surface of the,insulating material so that the support plate can be easily handled during the step of inserting the fastening elements. In FIG. 2, the plate 8 is shown with the handle at its lower end and the extension 11 of the tubular member extending through the plate, it will be appreciated that the handle can be located at different positions on the plate for the convenience of the person using it.

After a fastening element is inserted through the insulatirg material into the solid material base, the inserting tool 12, and the support plate 8 and its integrally attached tubular member 7 are removed and can be used in inserting the next fastening element.

In FIG. 3, a section of the composite wall'is shown comprising the inner solid base material 1, the compressible insulating layer 2 and the outer coat 3. In constructing the composite wall after the fastening elements are in place, a wire screen 4 is supported over the ends of the fastening elements which extend outwardly beyond the surface of the insulating layer 2. The screen is attached to the fastening elements with clamps or other means well known in the art, and a coating, such as a plaster or mortar, is applied to the screen 4. The outer coat or covering layer 3 is supported by the screen which, in turn, is supported on the fastening elements 6. The fastening elements extend through the insulating material and are supported in a cantilevered manner from the solid material base 1. In this arrangement, the insulating layer is properly covered, and it is protected from compaction or other damage to its form.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood I that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of driving fastening elements into a solid material covered by a compressible material such as an insulating material and comprising the steps of supporting a support element from and in spaced relationship with the solid material and in no greater than lightly cont-acting relationship with the compressible material, and inserting a fastening element into the solid material by firing a driving member pressed against the support element in the direction of the solid material whereby the support element absorbs the pressure exerted by the driving member in the insertion of the fastening element and does not compress and otherwise disturb the compressible material.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, comprising the step of forming an opening through the compressible material, and aligning the support element with the opening in the compressible material for inserting a fastening element through the opening into the solid material.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 2, comprising in- -'serting a tubular element from the support element ,1 through the compressible material into contact with the solid material whereby fastening elements are driven through the support element and the tubular element into the solid material without disturbing the compressible material.

4. A method, as set forth in claim 3, comprising the step of disposing the free end of fastening element outwardly from the surface of the compressible material remote from the surface of the solid material.

5. A method, as set forth in claim 4, comprising the step of securing a support member to the free end of 5 6 ported by the fastening elements and does not appreciably 3,095,777 7/ 1963 Hallock 29--432 X compact and disturb the compressible material. 3,133,378 5/ 1964 Poupitch 52-363 References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 344,088 3/1931 Great Britain.

5/1928 Merrick 227-456 X 758559 6/1954 Germany 3/1943 Dalton X CHARLIE T. MOON, Primary Examiner 8/1951 Miles 29432.6- X

9/1961 Huber 227-9 X 1/1963 Edwards et a1. 52363 X 10 29458, 527; 52-363, 378, 741; 227-9, 156 

